Im having a go at the 350 scale protected cruiser Varag using the WEM photo etch set. I do have some queries though I hope someone can clarify.

With the replacement skylight hatches. when they are open what angle do they sit at?

There are 8 coal scuttles in the set . Where are these to be placed on the ship? Nothing in the instructions

Finally , Im getting conflicting advice re the anti fouling paint. The kit says green. The model of the Varyag in St Petersberg naval museum has their model with red paint ( Im thinking Ill go with that. )
Has anyone got any better information?

Any information greatly appreciated

Hey Allan,

I know that the Austro-Hungarian Empire used green anti-fouling paint on their ships so It's not outside the realm of possibility.

I'm no expert .... I remember I did read some article mentioned that there were russian ships which in the black sea fleet were painted green then but were painted red when sent to battle with IJN fleet later....

Any expert can verify??

CPTan

Since I want to model it in its peacetime while livery I guess it would be in green at that time. Thats really useful.

Any ideas what coulour of green it was?

Ahoi there,

Tough questions regarding the anti-fouling:

The protected cruiser Vayryag was built at William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia, USA.
Unless anyone can verify that US shipyards ever used green anti-fouling I rather would guess it was red to start with.

OTOH I have this russian book ( I can´t even read it but it has tons of pictures of that vessel: ISBN: 9785699297214) which shows the Varyag in her 1901 configuration with green and in 1916 configuration with red anti-fouling.
Latter one makes sense regarding the ship was refitted by the IJN.

Gator is quiet right with K.u.K. having used green anti-fouling for some period.
To deepen the impression one might care to have a look at these 3D renderings:
Click: K.u.K. Viribus Unitis

For this, I rather would opt for the green color.

Up to my research the Zvezda kit only gives one option, and that is the 1901 configuration - no matter you chosse the peacetime or war livery.

The coal scuttles:
Would be hard to answer without looking at the plans.
However, I know Vector Cut makes wood decks for the 1/350 Varjag, which can be purchased here:
Click: VectorCut wooden Deck for Varjag
Those decks do carry the exact position of the coal scuttles, if I am not mistaken.

The skylight hatches:
I checked within the book I mentioned above and found one single photo showing the hatches opened at 30-35 degree, if that is of any help.

Great info DrW, thanks for sharing!

Argh,
am lucky I found this thread again since I did a little more research on this.

I have a wonderful example not only answering the question in general but also providing a first hand impression:

Since a link to a russian site often turns out problematic, I found another site showing what I am talking about:
Click Surviving Pre-Dreadnought Era Cruisers

There you can find a photo showing the Imperial Russian Cruiser Aurora (1903) which fits time and nation with the Varyag and comes with a green underwater hull/ship.

That is a killer site on the protected cruisers.

Thank you for sharing that with us!